Yemeni plane crashes in sea

The plane with 150 people on board crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros archipelago
Hardnews Bureau

A Yemeni airliner with 150 people on board crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros archipelago. The plane was flying from Paris and was due to land in the capital of the Comoros island, Moroni. The causes of the crash have not been confirmed yet.

Rescue operations have already begun. Yemeni authorities claimed to have found some bodies. They suspect that the possibilities of finding any survivors look bleak. The wreckage of the plane has been located and the spot is only six minutes from the airport. Officials in Moronia confirmed that Comoros doesn't have the capability to undertake a rescue operation at sea. Hence, boats from France and neighbouring countries have been sent to the area for search and rescue operation.

Various reports suggest that the control tower had received permission for landing before the aircraft lost contact with the ground staff. According to unconfirmed reports, the crash occurred after the plane aborted landing. Bad weather could be one of the reasons for the crash.

The plane, an Airbus A310-300, belonged to the Yemen's state carrier, Yemenia. The airline is 51 per cent owned by the Yemeni government and 49 per cent by the Saudi government.

This is the second crash of its kind in a month after a French Airbus 330 crashed into the ocean on June 1, 2009, killing all the 228 passengers, mostly French, on board.

The ill-fated Yemeni airliner had 142 passengers and 11 crew members aboard. Reports confirm that majority of the passengers on board were French nationals although many of them might have dual French-Comoran citizenship.

Two Airbus 330s crashing in a span of only four weeks should raise serious concerns about the much-hyped aircraft. However, French transport minister reportedly said that the plane was not at fault and bad weather was the primary reason for crash.